The Progress., 1887-11-12
a BIT OF OJIBNyA SENTIMENT.
WHITE EARTH, Mimi.
Nov. II. 1887.

WHITE EARTH, Mimi.
! Nov. II. 1887.
| Mr.. Editor
The PRoGREss, not having ex
pressed any political preferences
but presuming it will adhere to it
good resolutions Of defending th,
Indian, chit whom it may
would likewise be pleased if yo1
would indulge me to space in you.
columns, for my little say, etc.
Our head chief, White Cloud
not many years ago, in a speech t.
an official, made use Of these
words, 81 am an Ojibwa and love
my Greatfather, I can say that
never stained my hands with tht
blood of a white man, but offer
hear of the red people, my kind
being unfriendly to the Greatfa
ther, and shedding his blood, and
| also hear that they are assisted
by great sums of money for THEN
advancement. I am Ojibwa, tho
friendly to the Greatfather, am
assisted but little, I think wboev-
er is the Greatfather's friend they
should be treated fairly.''
The chiefs words call to mind
that within the memory of our
oldest men Of the Chippewa tribe,
there is no recollection Of their
having Gas tribe) shed the white
mans blood. Though there has
been dissatisfaction on one or two
occasions, no serious trouble has
ever occurred to mar the peace
full relations between the Great
father and themselves, on the 9TH
er hand when the appealing call
of Liberty and Union echoed oer'
our fair land the sons Of the Algic
race rallied with their pale-faced
bretherens in the ranks of the
"loyal, true and brave.'' And
''where heaves the turf in many a
mouldering heap" on southern
battlefields, many of them sleep
the sleep of loyal heros.
Robbed, and abused at times by
unscrupulous officials, the Chipp.
ewas have maintained patience
and loyalty. Owning from
time immemorial, over half of the
territory embraced in the present
states of Minnesota and Wiscon
sin, until disposing Of it by treat.
les; it is therefore but legally
and morally right, that in ex.
change for the cession of this large
tract Of country, and it's enor.
nous wealth in timber and miner.
al, besides it's value as farming
land, that ''the Ojibwas" should
expect a strict fulfllment of theil
treaties, or pledges Of the Great
father. -.
And what has been their expe
rience? Within the recollection o1
our young men, it is still remem
bered that an Indian agent, hav
ing falsifed annuity pay-rolls t<
cover a theft Of thousands of doll
ars, committed suicide; and ther
another during his incumbency
purchased (for private speculation
half breed script, paying for thu
same out Of Indian warehouse sup
plies, government cattle, etc. An(
there are other instances of thi.
class Of worthless retiring from
office-at salary Of $500 pc:
|year-worth $4,000 to 100000
Attempts have been made with tn,
connivance and sanction of gov
ernment of6csals to dispossess tn
| Ojibwas of this and other reserva
tions, of the valuable pine on thei
lands; and questions to this da,,
are pending, looking to settle
ment Of damages to Indian land
:; ooeeeioncd by the construct tion q
4 United States reservoirs on on
; reservations.
1t may be well to mention here
that the construction of these res
ervoirs was authorized by Cor
gres, and though one u. S. Att
| general gave an opinion that ''t
) build them without the consent {
/ the Indians, was Illegal" his SUI